Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York
Tidal marshes globally are experiencing erosion with sea level rise. In order to adaptively plan for essential marsh preservation, we recognize the importance of the investigation of marsh archives for the perspective they provide toward resilience. Our objective in this study is to examine the rela...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7a56 |
| _version_ | 1797747535979216896 |
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| author | D Peteet J Nichols D Pederson T Kenna C Chang B Newton S Vincent |
| author_facet | D Peteet J Nichols D Pederson T Kenna C Chang B Newton S Vincent |
| author_sort | D Peteet |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tidal marshes globally are experiencing erosion with sea level rise. In order to adaptively plan for essential marsh preservation, we recognize the importance of the investigation of marsh archives for the perspective they provide toward resilience. Our objective in this study is to examine the relationship of tidal marsh carbon sequestration with both climate change and human impact throughout past centuries and millennia. A Hudson River marsh sediment core spanning the last 2000 years is analyzed for bulk loss on ignition (LOI), bulk density, sedimentation rate, carbon (C) and mineral flux, and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis including lead, copper, titanium and potassium. We compare this record to previously established pollen and spore stratigraphy from the same site, along with an extensive macrofossil based AMS ^14 C chronology based upon both cores. Carbon accumulation generally follows sediment accumulation rates, which were higher than 200 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 prior to 1500 years ago. Declines in carbon storage rate during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) are linked to drought, fire, and charcoal, while lesser declines during the Little Ice Age (LIA) are linked to cooling and a shorter growing season. Subsequent human impact with marsh haying practices also led to carbon accumulation rate decline to 100 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 . Increases in C sequestration rates in recent decades may be attributable to nitrogen pollution of the estuary, invasive plants, and/or increased flooding, but the lack of mineral sediment threatens their stability. Ecosystem function is declining with the loss of foundational species, and the crisis is deepening for preservation of this habitat. We strongly recommend strategies for minimizing marsh loss. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:51:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-85b7e0f136c04d619fc75b6202b0bba4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:51:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-85b7e0f136c04d619fc75b6202b0bba42023-08-09T15:05:26ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262020-01-0115606500110.1088/1748-9326/ab7a56Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New YorkD Peteet0J Nichols1D Pederson2T Kenna3C Chang4B Newton5S Vincent6NASA/Goddard Institute for Space Studies , New York, NY, United States of America; Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of America; Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed.Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of AmericaUnited States Department of Agriculture, Athens , GA, United States of AmericaLamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of AmericaLamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of AmericaLamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of AmericaLamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University , NY, United States of AmericaTidal marshes globally are experiencing erosion with sea level rise. In order to adaptively plan for essential marsh preservation, we recognize the importance of the investigation of marsh archives for the perspective they provide toward resilience. Our objective in this study is to examine the relationship of tidal marsh carbon sequestration with both climate change and human impact throughout past centuries and millennia. A Hudson River marsh sediment core spanning the last 2000 years is analyzed for bulk loss on ignition (LOI), bulk density, sedimentation rate, carbon (C) and mineral flux, and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis including lead, copper, titanium and potassium. We compare this record to previously established pollen and spore stratigraphy from the same site, along with an extensive macrofossil based AMS ^14 C chronology based upon both cores. Carbon accumulation generally follows sediment accumulation rates, which were higher than 200 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 prior to 1500 years ago. Declines in carbon storage rate during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) are linked to drought, fire, and charcoal, while lesser declines during the Little Ice Age (LIA) are linked to cooling and a shorter growing season. Subsequent human impact with marsh haying practices also led to carbon accumulation rate decline to 100 g C m ^−2 yr ^−1 . Increases in C sequestration rates in recent decades may be attributable to nitrogen pollution of the estuary, invasive plants, and/or increased flooding, but the lack of mineral sediment threatens their stability. Ecosystem function is declining with the loss of foundational species, and the crisis is deepening for preservation of this habitat. We strongly recommend strategies for minimizing marsh loss.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7a56blue carbonsequestrationmarshesHudson RiverclimateMedieval Warm Period |
| spellingShingle | D Peteet J Nichols D Pederson T Kenna C Chang B Newton S Vincent Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York Environmental Research Letters blue carbon sequestration marshes Hudson River climate Medieval Warm Period |
| title | Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York |
| title_full | Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York |
| title_fullStr | Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York |
| title_full_unstemmed | Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York |
| title_short | Climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in Hudson River tidal marsh, Piermont, New York |
| title_sort | climate and anthropogenic controls on blue carbon sequestration in hudson river tidal marsh piermont new york |
| topic | blue carbon sequestration marshes Hudson River climate Medieval Warm Period |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab7a56 |
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